Abstract
RATIONALE: Unloading the diaphragm via mechanical ventilation (MV) results in rapid diaphragmatic fiber atrophy. It is unknown whether the myonuclear domain (cytoplasmic myofiber volume/myonucleus) of diaphragm myofibers is altered during MV. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that MV-induced diaphragmatic atrophy is associated with a loss of myonuclei via a caspase-3-mediated, apoptotic-like mechanism resulting in a constant myonuclear domain. METHODS: To test this postulate, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a control group or to experimental groups exposed to 6 or 12 h of MV with or without administration of a caspase-3 inhibitor. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After 12 h of MV, type I and type IIa diaphragm myofiber areas were decreased by 17 and 23%, respectively, and caspase-3 inhibition attenuated this decrease. Diaphragmatic myonuclear content decreased after 12 h of MV and resulted in the maintenance of a constant myonuclear domain in all fiber types. Both 6 and 12 h of MV resulted in caspase-3-dependent increases in apoptotic markers in the diaphragm (e.g., number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling positive nuclei and DNA fragmentation). Caspase-3-dependent increases in apoptotic markers occurred after 6 h of MV, before the onset of myofiber atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that the myonuclear domain of diaphragm myofibers is maintained during prolonged MV and that caspase-3-mediated myonuclear apoptosis contributes to this process.